Do you want to give or get red roses this Valentine’s Day? Sure, they’re the go-to flower on this day of love and commercialism, but they are also in highest demand and, therefore, priciest on this day too. And with the Canadian dollar sagging in value against the U.S. greenback, that pack of posies isn’t just going to set you back a bit, it’s going to downright hurt.
“Wholesale pricing goes up right from the source – the roses are of lovely quality, from Ecuador and Colombia, but it’s disappointing to have to charge so much. Still, it doesn’t seem to matter to the man who wants something beautiful for his woman. Walk-up business on Valentine’s Day is always huge – we had lineups and ran out last year,” said Linda Borschneck, owner of Grower Direct on St. Albert Trail.
Pointing to her usual lineup of oriental lilies, delphinium and long stem stock in fragrant, beautiful colours, Borschneck said there are plenty of alternatives for those who don’t have their heart set on red roses.
“We have awesome stuffed animals, chocolates, balloons, pretty vases – there are other ways to say ‘I love you’,” said the florist.
Indeed, data shows that some of the most popular Valentine’s Day offerings from men to women are flowers, chocolates/candy, greeting cards and an evening out, with Mashable.com reporting that 61 per cent of men opt for flowers above all else. But even when flowers are a must, Theresa Hansen, owner of the family-owned, long-time St. Albert florists Klondyke Flowers, said there are ways to ease the expense of the long-stemmed bouquet of cut red roses in a vase, with greens and baby’s breath. Plan on close to $100 for that, she said, or about $60 for the cut flowers in a sleeve. Want delivery? About $13 to $15 to St. Albert or Edmonton.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune. We have hundreds of bouquets of loose-wrapped, cello flowers that are a great value – lots of tulips, orchids, lilies, bird of paradise, pink or white roses – you can add a rose or two in a vase or bouquet arrangement of other flowers that will cost about $60 or $70,” Hansen said.
With Valentine’s Day on a weekend this year, delivery to the workplace won’t be as common an occurrence as when the holiday falls from Monday to Friday. Klondyke Flowers will be ready to roll with Valentine offerings on Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th, and Hansen expects huge walk-in business on those days.
Gardening guru Jim Hole said an exotic orchid houseplant arrangement (about $45) or spring-like citrus bouquet are wonderful alternatives for Valentine’s Day, appealing to female customers at the Floral Studio at Hole’s.
“They cost less and last longer than the traditional bouquet, and are very popular,” he said. “Orchids are on a string, and the individual flowers just keep opening – they have a simple elegance, and are a great, thoughtful choice.”
